Xref linetype scale in AS drawings

[Drawtech]

Hi guys,

I'm using an architect's drawing as an Xref in my model.

I have Xrefs included in camera views so appears on my GA drawing in Advance Steel.

However, the linetype scales are wrong.

I can't change the global LTSCALE as this affects ALL lines in the drawing and makes all my hidden lines as continuous.

I could change it in the Xref itself,  but that does not help if I need different scale Advance Steel drawings inculding the Xref'd drawing.

If I "edit block in place" from inside the Advance Steel drawing, I still cannot "edit Xref in place" in order to maybe use the VISRETAIN variable, since the block is already checked out for editing.  I think this is probably what you would do using plain AutoCAD.

I could explode the block to do the above, but then it is no longer attached to the view.

Is there a simple solution to this linetype scale problem?

The only other thing I can think of is making copies of the Xref with different linetype scales and loading the appropriate one in the relevant AS drawing, but not ideal.

Cheers,

Dave

[Garret_H]

Hello fellow user working in Advance steel with wood frames and architecture drawings!

I find it much easier to make a block of the ARCH drawings and paste that directly into your model, set everything to zero layer and use 'select similar' tools to clean it up. Xref adds a whole bunch of additional layers.

I'll put each block on its own layer so I can hide/show plans, sections etc. I also use these as an underlay when creating my GA sheets (there is an option to include 2D CAD objects in drawings), put that layer on a colour you can plot as a greyscale or dither so it fades into the background (after you send it to the back).

This isn't really a direct answer to your question, just a method that I've found useful. Let me know if you want anything more specific like where to find menu options etc. Here's an example of GA sheet with the arch layout as an under/overlay to the steel.

[Drawtech]

@Garret_H 

Thanks, I used to do it like that, but after getting so many changes to architecural drawings on projects (walls moving etc) it became a real pain. 

If there are changes to architect's drawings, even if you update the block in your model, it does not update in the AS drawings and you have to manually change the block already in each drawing ...or explode/delete then and re-insert a new block, but then it's no longer attached to the views.

One past project had bay windows in the masonry walls and they kept changing the size of them - due to the angles it wasnt so easy to "stretch" and I had to make same changes many times.

...so I started using Xrefs instead some time ago and on the most part, it works much better.  I still need to clean up the architect's drawing for layers, colours etc and save each plan/section etc as seperate dwgs to Xref in.

BUT, in the even of changes, there is only ONE to change and that is then seen in your model and across all AS drawings that show it.

This is the first time I've had any issues doing it this way.

...just wondered if there might be a way round the linetype scale issue.

I may just delete the "insulation" (the linetype causing the problem) from the architect's drawing as it has no bearing on the steelwork anyway.

Thanks anyway.